New honeycomb shaped catalyst comprising iron, iron oxide or an iron-based alloy, and exhibiting a multitude of parallel free-flow openings and a polygonal cross-section, useful for the preparation of ammonia from synthesis gas

摘要

Catalyst (10), in the shape of a honeycomb with a multitude of parallel free-flow openings and a polygonal cross-section, where at least 95 wt.% of the catalyst comprises iron, iron oxide or an iron-based alloy, is new. Independent claims are included for: (1) the honeycomb-shaped catalyst with at least a pin-shaped projection and at least a corresponding recess, which is preferably present at an appropriate position of an oppositely-lying side of the catalyst; (2) a method for the preparation of ammonia from synthesis gas in a tube bundle reactor (30) containing at least a tube (20) and a cooling jacket (40) comprising filling the catalyst as a loose packing or compactly aligned in at least a tube of the reactor or at the jacket side of the reactor, cooling the loose catalyst packing or compactly-aligned catalyst using a coolant, passing a water gas across and/or through the loose catalyst packing or compactly-aligned catalyst, so that the water gas can react to form ammonia; and (3) a fixed bed or tube bundle reactor comprising the catalyst.